Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in Zhuhai? Zhuhai's international schools accept applications year-round, with the main intake in late August. Families complete an online form, pay a fee, submit passports, visas and two years of reports, then the child sits an English and maths assessment and an interview. Offers arrive within two to three weeks and a deposit secures the place. Foreign-passport schools cannot admit mainland passports.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
International school admissions in Zhuhai have become more structured as the city's expat and cross-border population has grown. Zhuhai sits directly across the border from Macau and at the western end of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, and the Hengqin cooperation zone has attracted new campuses from established British names. That gives families more choice than five years ago, but it also means two distinct admissions tracks with very different eligibility rules. This guide explains both, step by step.
Details below reflect 2026 practice at the schools in our directory and should be treated as indicative. Every school publishes its own timeline and document list, so confirm with the admissions office once you know your arrival date and your child's passport situation.
Zhuhai's geography and the two admissions tracks
Expat families in Zhuhai cluster in three areas: Jida and Gongbei near the Macau border, where older international schools and the ferry terminal sit; Tangjia and the university corridor to the north; and Hengqin island, a new district of wide roads and large campuses that also houses many Macau residents who commute across the Lotus Bridge. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which opened to traffic in October 2018, has made weekend travel to Hong Kong routine and brought a steady flow of families who split their time between the three cities.
The critical distinction for admissions is passport status. Schools licensed for the children of foreign personnel, such as QSI and Zhuhai International School, may only enrol children holding foreign passports or Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan documents. Licensed private bilingual schools, including the Dulwich and Harrow branded campuses in Hengqin, follow China's national curriculum alongside international elements and can admit mainland Chinese students. Knowing which track you qualify for removes half the schools from your list immediately.
Programmes you can apply to in Zhuhai
Zhuhai covers the main English-medium routes, though the depth in any one curriculum is thinner than in Shenzhen or Guangzhou.
- American curriculum: QSI International School of Zhuhai runs a US mastery-based programme from age three to Grade 12 with AP options.
- International Baccalaureate: Zhuhai International School offers the IB Primary Years and pathways to the Diploma, on a campus in Tangjia.
- British curriculum with Chinese national curriculum: Dulwich College Zhuhai and the Dulwich International High School Programme at Hengqin combine bilingual primary years with IGCSE and A Level style outcomes.
- Leadership-focused bilingual programmes: Harrow Innovation Leadership Academy Zhuhai, in Hengqin, offers a bilingual programme with a British flavour for Chinese and international students.
- Cambridge bilingual streams: Zhuhai Yinghua Cambridge International School runs Cambridge assessments within a bilingual model.
Admissions at Zhuhai's international schools
QSI International School of Zhuhai
The longest-running foreign-passport school in the city, QSI accepts applications year-round and is used to mid-year arrivals from Macau and Hong Kong. Families submit an online application, passport and visa copies, previous reports and a health record; children sit an English placement and meet the director. Offers are typically made within two weeks.
Zhuhai International School
An IB World School for foreign passport holders on a green campus in Tangjia. Admissions include an application fee, an English and maths assessment and a family interview, with a strong emphasis on fit with the inquiry-based approach. The early years fill early, so apply by April for August.
Dulwich College Zhuhai
Part of the Dulwich College International family, this bilingual campus admits both Chinese and international students into a programme that blends the national curriculum with a British approach. Applicants sit assessments in English, Chinese and maths, and interviews are held with both child and parents. Registration for the September intake usually opens the previous autumn.
Harrow Innovation Leadership Academy Zhuhai
Located in Hengqin, this academy offers a bilingual, leadership-focused programme with boarding options. The admissions process includes a written assessment, an interview in English and Chinese, and a review of school reports; the school looks for evidence of extracurricular engagement as well as academic results.
Zhuhai Yinghua Cambridge International School
A bilingual school using Cambridge assessments, popular with local and returning Chinese families who want an international pathway at a lower price. Entry is by assessment and interview, and families should ask specifically about English immersion hours in each year group.
Admissions costs and fees in RMB
Admissions in Zhuhai come with a predictable set of upfront costs. Application fees run roughly RMB 1,500 to 2,500, a seat deposit of roughly RMB 10,000 to 30,000 is due on acceptance and credited against tuition, and some schools charge a one-time capital or development fee of RMB 15,000 to 40,000. Annual tuition for 2026 is roughly RMB 100,000 to 160,000 at bilingual schools and RMB 170,000 to 260,000 at the foreign-passport international schools, rising with age.
One hard fact shapes eligibility: the regulations implementing China's Private Education Promotion Law that took effect on 1 September 2021 reinforced the separation between schools for foreign personnel's children and licensed private schools, and require the latter to teach the national curriculum in the compulsory years. This is why bilingual schools assess Chinese as well as English. The common admissions-related extras are below.
- Application or assessment fee: RMB 1,500 to 2,500, non-refundable.
- Seat deposit: RMB 10,000 to 30,000, credited to the first invoice.
- Capital or development fee: RMB 15,000 to 40,000 at some schools, one-off.
- Uniform: RMB 2,000 to 4,500 in the first year.
- School bus: RMB 8,000 to 15,000 a year; Hengqin routes cost more.
- Lunch: RMB 6,000 to 9,000 a year.
- Boarding, where offered: RMB 40,000 to 80,000 a year on top of tuition.
Practical tips for applying in Zhuhai
Sort out the passport and visa question first. Foreign-passport schools will ask for the child's passport and the parent's residence permit or work visa at application, and they cannot make an exception for a mainland passport holder however strong the application. If your child holds a Hong Kong or Macau document, ask which schools accept it and what supporting paperwork they need.
Time the application around the assessment calendar. Most schools run assessment days monthly from October to May, with ad hoc sessions for relocating families. Bilingual schools in Hengqin have larger cohorts and fixed registration windows for the local intake, so international applicants should ask whether they can join a separate, faster track.
Ask about English support and Chinese expectations. Bilingual campuses expect meaningful Mandarin from primary onwards, while foreign-passport schools teach Mandarin as an additional language. An honest conversation about your child's languages at interview avoids a placement that looks right on paper and wrong in the classroom.
Compare Zhuhai schools before you apply
Compare Zhuhai's international and bilingual schools on facilities, fees and parent reviews in the ISA ranking of the best schools in China.
More guides to schools in Zhuhai
Frequently asked questions
Can a Chinese passport holder attend an international school in Zhuhai?
Not at the schools licensed exclusively for the children of foreign personnel, such as QSI or Zhuhai International School, which may only enrol foreign, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan passport holders. Chinese passport holders can apply to licensed bilingual schools such as Dulwich College Zhuhai or Harrow Zhuhai, which follow the national curriculum with international elements.
How long does the admissions process take in Zhuhai?
From submitting a complete application to receiving an offer usually takes two to four weeks, provided the child can attend an assessment. Relocating families who apply from abroad can often complete the assessment online. Deposit deadlines are typically one to two weeks after the offer, and enrolment paperwork follows once the deposit clears.
Do Zhuhai schools accept mid-year admissions?
Yes, in most year groups. Foreign-passport schools in particular expect rolling arrivals linked to corporate postings and Macau relocations, and will place a child within a week or two if space exists. Bilingual schools are more constrained by their fixed local intake, especially in the compulsory education years, so ask early.